“Semonides1: —Son of Crines, of Amorgos, writer of iambic verse; in origin he was of Samos, but was sent out by the Samians at the head of the colony they planted in Amorgos, founding three cities there, Minoa, Aegialus, and Arcesime. He flourished 390 years after the Trojan War.2 According to some authorities he was the first writer of iambics, and he wrote a History of Samos in two Books, in Elegiac verse, and other poetry of various kinds.” Suidas Lexicon:
“Amorgos is one of the Sporades and was the home of Semonides the iambic poet.” Strabo Geography:
“Semonides is made contemporary with Archilochus, and Callinus comes a little earlier, Archilochus speaking of Magnesia as destroyed and Callinus as still flourishing. Eumelus of Corinth is said to have belonged to an earlier date and been contemporary with Archias the founder of Syracuse. ” Clement of Alexandria Miscellanies
“Amorgos —an island, one of the Cyclades, containing three cities, Arcesine, Minoa, and Aegiale ... Of Minoa was Semonides the iambic writer called of Amorgos.3” Stephanus of Byzantium Lexicon:
“... I know too well that your life has been marked by innumerable deeds worthy of satire,4 deeds such that I believe Archilochus himself could not cope with even one of them, though he should call in the aid of Semonides and Hipponax. Why, their satires —Orodoecides, Lycambes, Bupalus —you have made mere child's play in every sort of beastliness.5” Lucian The Liar:
“Semonides is said to have been born [or flourished] in the 29th Olympiad （664-1 B.C.）.” Cyril Against Julian:
